OG Anunoby’s buzzer-beating three-pointer pushed the Toronto Raptors to a nail-biting Game 3 victory over the Boston Celtics.
Raptors’ OG Anunoby drained a buzzer-beating triple to beat the Celtics in Game 3. (Photo from CBS Sports)
With the team facing a potential 0-3 hole in their semi-finals match-up against the Celtics, the Raptors found new life as Anunoby sank a game-winning corner trifecta to push the defending champs to a 104-103 win. Veteran star Kyle Lowry, who made the pass to Anunoby, tallied a game-high 31 markers, to go along with his 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals.
As the game reached its crucial stages, stars from both teams put on a show. The Celtics mounted an 8-0 mini-run to erase the Raps’ 95-91 lead, but Lowry hit consecutive difficult finishes around the rim to put his team back into the game. A creative finish from Toronto guard Fred VanVleet tied the game, but Boston answered with a nifty pass from Kemba Walker to pave way for an easy bucket from Daniel Theis.
With only 0.5 seconds left on the clock, the Raptors diagrammed a play to get Anunoby open in the corner. Lowry made a difficult pass over the outstretched arms of the 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall, and Anunoby drilled the game-winner.
ANUNOBY FOR THE WIN WITH .5 SECONDS LEFT pic.twitter.com/M6IdnSv5yd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 4, 2020
VanVleet produced 25 markers for the Raptors, while All-Star forward Pascal Siakam chipped in 16 points and 7 boards. Kemba was the high-point man for Boston, finishing with 29 points and 3 steals. Jaylen Brown contributed a double-double performance of 19 points and 12 rebounds in the Celtics’ heartbreaking loss.
SCORES
Raptors (104) – Lowry 31, VanVleet 25, Siakam 16, Anunoby 12, Gasol 10, Powell 8, Ibaka 2, Thomas 0
Celtics (103) – Walker 29, Brown 19, Tatum 15, Smart 11, Theis 9, Wanamaker 5, G. Williams 5, Kanter 4, Williams III 3, Ojeleye 3
